Sustainability as a competitive advantage

The indicators we record throughout the Company offer transparency in many respects. They help us to identify potential improvements, steer programs, monitor target achievement, and inform the public about our performance and progress in compact form. As shown below by the indicators for the reporting year 2011, sustainable business practices improve not only environmental performance but business performance as well.

Economic indicators

2010

2011

Sales in million euros

15,092

15,605

Adjusted1 operating profit (EBIT) in million euros

1,862

2,029

Adjusted return on sales (EBIT) in percent

12.3

13.0

Adjusted earnings per preferred share (EPS) in euros

2.82

3.14

Research and development expenditure in million euros

391

410

Dividend per ordinary share in euros

0.70

0.782

Dividend per preferred share in euros

0.72

0.802

1

Adjusted for one-time charges/gains and restructuring charges.

2

Proposal to shareholders for the Annual General Meeting on April 16, 2012.